Synthesis & Spectral Analysis -

Flavanones have the skeleton of 2-phenyl benzopyran-4-one structure. They are isomers of chalcones formed from the latter by the action of chalcone isomerases in vivo. The stereochemistry at C-3 is (3s) configuration for all naturally occurring flavanones. The key intermediates in the synthesis of all flavonoids are the chalcones/ flavanone isomers. Co-occurrence of much flavonoid class of compounds in plants indicates their close biogenetic relationship. Flavanones co-occur occasionally with chalcones as they are isomers and easily interconvertible.